Shooting Box Day Nursery

Inspection of Shooting Box Day Nursery Broad Oak Road, Woodstock Park, Tunstall, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are confident and are aware of their surroundings. They develop close bonds and attachments with their key person and other staff. When children arrive, staff greet them at their level with hugs and cuddles. This helps support children's self-assurance, confidence and sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy stories. They listen carefully, fully immersed in the story due to the animation of staff voice, use of pitch and tone, to support children's vision of the story. Children retell and predict familiar stories. For example, young children tell staff what the Gruffalo is going to do next. Older children listen with excitement and astonishment at stories about elves. They relate the story to experiences of characters at home during Christmas time. Children show a thirst for knowledge and are eager to learn.

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The provision is good

Children learn to make close friendships and develop relationships with others. For example, children in the baby room greet their friends with hugs and kisses, pleased to see them and introducing them to their play. During group activities, older children find loops on the parachute for their younger friends to make sure they are included in the activity.

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need to do better?

n Children learn to develop self-help skills early on in the setting. Toddlers sit together at snack time, learning to use knives to spread the butter on crackers, and some pour their own drinks. Older children learn to put on their coats through demonstrations. They are introduced to simple skills of flipping their coats over their heads to put them on themselves. They eagerly await lunchtime, washing their hands and finding their name cards to identify their place at the table. n Children show ever-increasing imaginations through role play and small-world play. They incorporate voices and use language to express their creativity. However, children's imagination is not consistently encouraged through expressive art and design. Children, in the main, spend time completing staff's designs. They have limited opportunities to express themselves with paint, textures and mediums for their own designs. n Staff know how children learn best. They provide challenges and resources to

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need to do better?

extend their thinking and play. For example, older children explore puzzles, thinking critically as to what piece to look for next. They match the colours and shapes to successfully finish the task. However, the ongoing learning for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is not always linked to their interests or preferences in play. Staff do not always know what strategies to use to fully support the next steps in their development.

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need to do better?

20 December 2022 n Children's language and speech are promoted well throughout routines and activities. There is a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated experiences. Staff engage and interact with children well, using their interests to lead conversations and develop their confidence to express themselves. For example, during group activities, children excitedly sing along with familiar songs. Younger children explore sounds in their play, with expressive, repetitive sounds to encourage new vocabulary. n Staff are eager to improve their professional development. They are enthusiastic to gain new ideas, strategies and practices to support individuals and groups of children in their learning. n Parents make positive comments about the good communication systems in place. They are well aware of their key person and receive plentiful information about their children's achievements and care. Parents appreciate the support

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need to do better?

staff give towards helping with toileting and eating strategies. Parents talk enthusiastically about the learning programmes staff have introduced to them, to support children's learning at home. n Management is quick to realise staff's potential, delegating responsibilities well to support staff's professional development and roles. This helps staff to feel empowered and have a strong sense of pride in their abilities. n Children learn about the outside world through positive experiences. Young children look through windows at the world around and also have everyday play outdoors. They explore natural materials such as water, mud and sand. Staff use these experiences to encourage social skills, dexterity and extend their language. Staff encourage children's particular strengths, to involve other children. They encourage them to demonstrate new skills, such as scoring goals and saving the ball with their hands. Children feel proud to share their skills with

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a robust knowledge of their responsibilities and role to keep children safe from harm. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse. They attend up-to- date training and receive regular information about changes to procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child in their care. The designated safeguarding lead takes their responsibility seriously. They make sure relevant information is shared with all staff to provide a consistent approach to children's welfare. Children play in a safe and secure environment. Staff monitor and assess risks carefully linked to children's capabilities.

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should:

20 December 2022 n provide children with opportunities to explore a range of media and materials to help further support children's imaginations in art and design n extend staff's knowledge and practice to support children with SEND to have space for their play, and develop staff's strategies to fully support their needs and promote their ongoing development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127538 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10262978 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Sawyer, Beverley Ann

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reference number

Telephone number 01795 424262 Date of previous inspection 13 April 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Shooting Box Day Nursery opened in 1989. It operates in Tunstall, on the outskirts of Sittingbourne, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider employs nine staff. Of these, seven hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The provision is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager.

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Inspection activities

n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

20 December 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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